Idioms

a back number

back number

Someone or something that is out of date, out of fashion, or no longer relevant. Alludes to an issue of a periodical, magazine, or any serial publication that is now out of date. Primarily heard in US. While it created quite a controversy in its time, the movie's love scene is a bit of a back number by today's standard. The singer was a huge star in the 1980s, but she's just a back number now. That retired politician thinks he's still a big deal, when, really, he's nothing but a back number.
See also: back, number
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

a back number

If you call someone a back number, you mean that they are no longer useful or successful. This veteran jockey showed he was no back number by coming third out of a field of 24. Note: A back number of a magazine or newspaper is an edition of it that was published some time ago and is not the most recent.
See also: back, number
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

a back number

1 an issue of a periodical before the current one. 2 a person whose ideas or methods are out of date and who is no longer relevant or useful.
See also: back, number
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
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